Change is Beautiful

Posted on October 5, 2022 by Diana Cruz

Fall is undoubtedly my all-time favorite season. There is something so tranquil about feeling my favorite flannel brush against the cool breeze. The sight of beautiful vibrant leaves falling upon the jack-o-lantern on my doorstep brings color to my world. The scent of freshly baked cookies being carried throughout the house warms me as I watch classic horror movie reruns on the TV. But for a multitude of reasons, autumn this year resonates with me on a deeper, more existential level. It is the season of change, both externally and internally. As we come to adjust our surroundings and habits to correlate with our altering environment, we may begin to reflect inward.

"Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go." text graphic

Continue reading →

Fall Celebrations

Posted on September 23, 2016 by Melissa Young

Well, Fall is finally here even if in most parts of the country it doesn’t feel like it. Most people associate Autumn with its two main holidays: Halloween and Thanksgiving. I know that if you were to play a word association game with me, I’d tell you that Fall makes me think of warm apple cider, jack o’lanterns, pumpkin pie, turkey and trick or treating. All those things are connected to the holidays.

I thought to myself that there had to be more to the season. Guess what? There is so much more to celebrate. I came across a website (http://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/october/) that lists all of the “National Days” that you might hear mentioned on the morning news or radio. Some are serious, but most are a bit silly. I, for one, don’t think you can have too much silly in your life. So, while there were so many for the season, I thought I’d share my favorites for October.

October 4^th – National Taco Day. Have Mexican food for lunch or dinner to celebrate!
October 8^th – National Fluffernutter Day. Make yourself a peanut butter and marshmallow fluff sandwich. If that’s not your speed, celebrate National Pierogi Day instead!
October 10^th – National Kick Butt Day. This is the day to give yourself a kick in the pants and get yourself moving on something you’ve been meaning to do for a while.
October 12^th – National Bring Your Teddy Bear to Work Day. Get all of your co-workers involved and have a slumber party!
October 14^th – National Take Your Parents to Lunch Day. Make sure your kids know you expect them to celebrate this day! And, have the pie or ice cream at the end because it’s also National Dessert Day!
October 17^th – National Clean Your Virtual Desktop Day. This might be the easiest cleaning chore of them all! Click and clean!
October 18^th – National Chocolate Cupcake Day. Buy yourself a chocolate cupcake as a reward for all of the hard work you did yesterday!
October 22^nd – National Nut Day. Peanuts, walnuts, almonds, pistachios…so many nuts and only 24 hours to celebrate!
October 28^th – National Breadstick Day. I wonder if Olive Garden knows about this day? It might be fun (and tasty) finding out!
October 30^th – National Candy Corn Day. Finally, a reason to dig into the Halloween candy early!
October 31^st – National Knock Knock Jokes Day. Have some fun with the trick or treaters by telling funny and corny knock knock jokes all day. You’ll have a captive audience because they’ll want the candy!

This website serves as a reminder that there is always something in life worth enjoying. Plus, there is no law against you creating your own day of fun for your friends and family. In the end, it’s just important that we, as the website’s motto says, “Celebrate Every Day”.

October 2015 Artist of the Month: Celebrating the Work of Artists Affected by Multiple Sclerosis

Posted on October 5, 2015 by John MSAA

MSAA is very proud to present our 2015 Art Showcase – celebrating the work of artists affected by MS.

We have received many wonderful submissions from across the country and are delighted to share their work and their stories with you. Please visit our online gallery to view all of the new submissions.

October Artist of the Month:
Bean Fairbanks – Seattle, WA

About the Artist:
“All of my life, I have been part geek and part artist. Since 1987, I have been living with multiple sclerosis. One of the consequences/opportunities of MS has been that I have had to reinvent myself over and over again to maximize my current talents and surmount obstacles. That has been true of my career as well as my art work. Over the years, I have crafted with charcoal, pen and ink, pastels, acrylic and oils as well as my first love: textile arts.

Now most of artwork is augmented digitally. My laptop is much more forgiving of my hand tremors than pen and ink! The computer allows me to bring my artistic vision to light. Art remains my inspiration, therapy, passion and a means to communicate. My artwork is as eclectic as my moods, whether reflecting frenzy, sensuousness or the bare essence of being.”
Read more

Be inspired – please send an online card featuring artwork by MS artist Bean Fairbanks and spread awareness of MS and MSAA.

Exercise, Part II

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Angel Blair

“Jogging is very beneficial. It’s good for your legs and your feet. It’s also very good for the ground. It makes it feel needed.”

~ Charles M. Schulz

”Never eat more than you can lift.”

~ Miss Piggy

Resolutions. Most of us have made them, and they commonly include some type of exercise plan. They usually occur in celebration of the start of a new year, to help mark new beginnings and make meaningful changes. Though we all know that resolutions may start off strong with promises, schedules and routines, they do not always last with the same enthusiastic energy. Compared to any other time of year, (Halloween resolutions are not that common), New Year’s is the identified time that marks the declaration of these resolutions, but who says they have to be created only when the clock strikes midnight?

As summer is slowly coming to a close, we are ready to embark on yet another season change. The fall brings relief from the heat but not the bitterness of winter, the start of a new school year for some, and another “beginning” for people to make changes. So as the weather gets cooler, perhaps it is time for those exercise resolutions to be resurrected, or made for the first time. Take advantage of the cooler weather by exercising outside, or enjoying outdoor activities without the overwhelming heat. What can we do so that exercise does not remain a forgotten resolution?

FOLLOW MSAA ON: